London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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53
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF
Staff medical examinations are undertaken on the following occasions.
(a) Entrants to the Established Staff. All persons appointed to the established staff
are medically examined, unless they are already established local authority officers.
In general, non-established staff are first examined as soon as it seems reasonably
certain that they will remain in the Council's employ. They are examined again
immediately prior to joining the establishment.
(b) After sickness. Staff whose sick pay has expired are examined to evaluate the
probability of their return to duty. A report is sent to the appropriate committee.
(c) Age. Certain staff who wish to continue working after the normal age for retirement
are examined to determine their fitness to do so. Motor drivers are examined
at the ages of 55 years and 60 years and thereafter annually.
The following table gives the numbers and results of examinations conducted during 1961.
| No. of Examinations | Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| First examination | 69 | Fit for employment | 85 |
| Second examination | 19 | Decision deferred | 9 |
| Re-examinations of the above | — | Not fit for employment | 3 |
| By reason of age | 3 | ||
A decision is deferred when further observation or investigation of an abnormality
is desirable, or to enable the applicant to obtain treatment for a remediable defect.
In addition 7 examinations were made of 6 persons who had had long periods of
sickness. In all cases the general practitioner was consulted. As a result of these
deliberations, one person was considered to be "incapable of discharging the duties of
their employment by reason of permanent ill health or infirmity of body."
DISABLED DRIVERS.
Seventy-five applications for exemption from parking meter charges were referred
by the Borough Engineer for medical opinion, necessitating medical examinations in respect
of 45 of these applicants.
OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE
The register of Elderly Holborn Residents which is kept consists of names supplied
by persons and organisations interested in the welfare of the aged. It includes members
of Old Peoples' Clubs and those who are visited by other organisations. The remainder
are visited regularly by the Social Workers. The state of the register at the end of the
year was:—
Number on visiting list 331
Number known to be active or members of Clubs 392
Visited by other organisations 199
Total number registered 922
Old people who are fit and well are visited once a year to maintain contact and check
the accuracy of the register. Less able people are visited quarterly or monthly. When
special difficulties arise more frequent visits are needed. During the year 1,577 visits
were made by the Social Workers.